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50 Front Porch Ideas to Elevate Your Home’s Curb Appeal

For a house that needs a refresh, implementing front porch ideas is a smart way to add curb appeal without spending like crazy. Still, designing a front porch is not a task to take lightly. If home is where the heart is, then the front porch is where the soul resides. Each front porch is not only unique to your house, but it’s unique to your style. “This is a place where you can express yourself and your creativity,” says Jennifer Hunter, owner of Jennifer Hunter Design in New York. “No matter the type, a porch provides the ideal opportunity to add seating and decor so you can play with the aesthetic and blend it in a way that connects your interior with the outdoors by using weather-friendly materials.” Before you dive into designing, consider the type of porch you have. Is it front entry or wrap around? Does it offer space for ample seating? Should you add greenery or a sculptural element, or even a new doormat?

What are the different types of front porches? 

Some of the most popular styles of front porches include open porches and bungalow porches. Open porches, also known as farmer’s porches, have strong support from the ground and can run along the front or wrap around the sides of the house. This type of porch can be elevated or rest close to the ground. “They often have a broad opening to the attached green space and usually don’t have roofs,” says Linda Mauck Smith, co-owner and designer of BLDC Design in Shaker Heights, Ohio. “A bungalow porch acts as an extension to the front of a house and typically is built with columns and are finished with a roof or a pergola.” Both open and bungalow porches can also be screened, to make the area bug-free. A portico, a porch that covers a front entry, is usually on the smaller side. It’s also roofed to protect anyone entering or leaving the main entry. A gable roof porch, which has a triangular structure overhanging it, and a front entry porch, which is a small slab of concrete directly outside the front door, are two other popular front porch designs.

How do you style a front patio? 

Style a front porch just as you would any other room in the house, but consider the materials used—much like you would when designing an outdoor patio. ”It’s best to style with wood, metals, and fabrics that are waterproof and fade-resistant,” Mauck Smith says.

If your front porch or patio has enough room, seating is essential. “A front porch is the perfect place for socializing,” Hunter says. “It is a space that is meant to be savored. Create a seating area with chairs and side tables.” A comfortable seating area will not only allow you to spend time on your front porch, but it makes the home appear more inviting overall.

How can I make my front porch look good?

“Avoid clichéd signage and stick with [items] that you might normally be more likely to use indoors,” Hunter says. To make the front porch look good, and perhaps the envy of the neighborhood, make the space a continuation of your interior design. “It’s a great space to have some fun and add outdoor-friendly accessories,” Hunter continues. “Be inventive with your styling by grouping a collection of potted plants on a coffee table or a single fern on a garden stool.   Lanterns or hurricanes are a great way to not only bring in decorative elements but also candlelight. This completely transforms the mood and allows you to entertain past daylight.”

Ahead, 50 front porch ideas—big and small—to transform the home entrance into anything from a favorite new book nook to a happy hour hotspot. Here, everything you ever wanted to know about front porch design.

60 Warm and Welcoming Front Porch Ideas

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 07/14/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto 

Your front porch is your home's best chance to make a good first impression. No matter how big or small it might be, whether it is showy or unassuming, and regardless of the style of architecture, your front porch deserves as much attention to design and decor as your interior space.

A front porch can function as nothing more than a pass-through space or double as a second outdoor living room. It can create a convenient landing space for comings and goings, or simply sit there looking pretty, inviting passersby to wonder what else you have going on inside.

Whether you are looking to enhance your home's curb appeal, create a welcoming portal for both you and your guests, or make life a little more pleasant for all of those hard-working delivery people who visit your doorstep every day, check out these front porches in a range of layouts and sizes that don't skimp on style for some clever ideas on how to beautify your own outdoor space.

120 photos of optimal performance and design options

Many future owners of a private country house, which is just being built, do not pay much attention to the porch, and some even forget to build it. Someone simply did not provide for it, for others it may not be necessary to install it. However, in fact, the porch in a suburban house is a very important and complex architectural addition to the house, in addition, it can also have an aesthetic function, thereby indicating the elegance and originality of the building as a whole.

Therefore, its construction must be taken with all seriousness and responsibility, since it is from it that the entrance to the house begins. At the same time, most owners of their houses are trying to equip the facade of their house in such a way that everyone around would like it, the same applies to all extensions to the house.

It should be noted that from the point of view of practicality and convenience of construction, it is desirable to build it last, and if possible not together with the house, but separately.


The fact is that building a porch with your own hands will not be very difficult, almost anyone who understands at least a little about construction can handle this work. At the same time, in the process of adding to the house, you can come up with various options for the structure right on the go or improvise a little.

More instructions, as well as tricks from the pros, on creating furniture, decor and various crafts are on the website https://podelki.org/

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Material selection

Almost any available building material can be used as the base material for making a porch. As a rule, the main material for this extension is still concrete. However, you can use other materials such as: brick, stone, wood, forged metal.

In this case, brick is not recommended, as it is very strongly exposed to precipitation and temperature, which will eventually lead to its destruction, cracks will be visible on the brick and chips will form, and this will spoil the appearance of the facade.

But porch options using stone or wrought iron are a very complex and expensive option. Therefore, the most optimal construction option is made of concrete.

At the same time, it can be built in various shapes and types, after which, if desired, you can make a special lining to imitate stone or brick, and additionally embellish with various elements of forged metal. This option is the most acceptable both in terms of material choice and in terms of money.

So, let's look at the most common porch designs.

Open deck with steps

This is the easiest way to build this extension. There is practically nothing complicated here, except to properly mount the steps for the porch. A canopy is not provided for this design, so this option is the fastest in terms of construction.

Platform with closed walls

As a rule, this type is installed on low elevations, where special railings with railings prevent falls. At the same time, the fences and railings themselves can perform not only a protective function, but also a decorative one.

Closed porch

This type is primarily suitable for large and spacious country houses, where it is possible to make one part as a veranda, and the second directly at the entrance to the house, while the site itself should be very extensive.

This option is very convenient, since you can receive guests both in its closed part, for example, if the weather is bad outside, and in the air. Therefore, a closed porch is a very interesting option.

Construction of a wooden porch

Before you start building a porch to the facade of the building, you must have a clear plan and drawing of the structure. At the same time, the drawing must indicate all the necessary parameters and dimensions of the structure, as well as the structure of the steps, their height and width, the parameters of handrails and railings. You should not forget about what you want to see in the end, this is a very important point.

Next, you need to decide on the foundation and its dimensions. After all, the durability of the structure and its reliability largely depend on a high-quality and reliable foundation.


As a rule, the choice of foundation is influenced by a number of important factors, such as: the presence of groundwater in the soil, the terrain (hills, elevations). After that, you can get to work.

It is recommended to use hardwood beams for a wooden porch during operation, so that it would serve a long service life.

Equally important is the staircase, which is the link between the facade of the building and the porch. It is necessary to choose the method of constructing a staircase from the structural features of the facade of the house, here the choice is very large.

Construction of a metal porch

Metal porch is mainly made for cottages or small private houses. This type of porch is the most popular and popular, second only to wood. Knowing all the required dimensions, such a porch can be pre-welded, and then the finished structure can be delivered directly to its destination.

If there are no decorative elements made of forged metal in this design, then its cost will be much less than that of concrete or wood. Therefore, although the wrought iron porch is very beautiful and has a stunning view, it is quite expensive and also very difficult to install.

For such a porch, it is allowed to lay the foundation of a lighter version, since the metal is a rather elastic material, therefore, the impact on its soil does not have any effect. And in some cases, for such a design, the foundation is completely unnecessary.

Steps for this design can be made entirely of metal, or you can additionally make a wooden step, it all depends on your fantasy and imagination.

Concrete porch building

The construction of the porch in this version is quite troublesome and complicated. It is characterized by the presence of a solid and reliable foundation, so it can stand as long as the house itself.

At the same time, an important feature in the structure of this type of porch is that inside the formwork it is necessary to reinforce the steps with reinforcement. And in general, it is necessary to make a frame from reinforcement in the image of the structure, all this is necessary for a more reliable structure.

It is recommended to pour concrete in one step, but it is very difficult, so pouring with short breaks is allowed. This means that when the first pour was poured and slightly dried up, then you can gradually pour further concrete mortar. And so to the top of the formwork.

Canopy and canopy

The canopy over the porch is very convenient and practical in terms of the safety of the building of the house. Most often, a porch with a canopy serves as protection from the weather, at the same time, it can also perform a decorative function.

As a rule, the suspended canopy can be mounted on almost any part of the wall or surface of the facade of the house, with the exception of frame or prefabricated panel walls.

Almost every canopy, with the exception of a gable or arched canopy, must be equipped with a special gutter that diverts the water stack to the side.

Thus, choosing a porch to your taste is not as easy as it seems. The whole difficulty lies in the variety of choices and in the cost. If you have any difficulties with the choice, you can familiarize yourself and see the bright and colorful photos of the porch, maybe you will find something for yourself.

Porch photo

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Post published: 02.11

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How to decorate the porch of a private house

The porch is an obligatory element of the entrance part of the building and its "business card". The desire to decorate your own home, taking into account fashion trends and personal taste preferences, is inherent in almost everyone. The design of the porch of a private house should emphasize the integrity of the entire structure and make it more attractive. There are many options for decorating the entrance part of the building, so we suggest that you consider the most popular and interesting of them.

Wooden porch

The most popular option is the installation of wooden decking on the porch. In most cases, such structures are made from pine wood, as the most inexpensive and popular natural raw material. If the porch is properly sealed, varnished and painted, it will look attractive for many years.

This is an up-to-date way of decorating the facade, which is decorated in a country style. This design can be supplemented with wood-based porch decor, which will bring the atmosphere of a country cottage. Wood can be supplemented with stone, which is relevant not only for country style. In suburban private buildings, these two materials look quite harmonious together and are suitable for finishing scaffolds, doors and use as a decor.

Concrete porch

Concrete is considered a versatile material that is inexpensive and reliable, and is also optimal for making a porch. This is a monolithic structure that will not begin to stagger over time, which is sometimes inherent in wooden products. In addition, it can be easily repaired and decorated with any decor. Do not forget that the concrete porch can be of various shapes, which will not particularly affect the price and the amount of time to complete the task.

Concrete structures can be decorated with tiles, such as clinker tiles. There are options trimmed with stone, and also painted with paint, and processed with other materials. In modern buildings with a facade of wood, brick or siding, a concrete porch can be left without additional coverage. This allows you to emphasize the features of the texture of the walls and their colors.

Brick porch

A brick porch is a more expensive option than the previous ones, but it also looks attractive and is considered a fairly reliable solution for decorating a house. Installation of the structure may take more time and require serious effort, but in the future the work will pay off with a vengeance, since it does not require additional care.

Often, a brick porch has a concrete base or a step covering based on other materials. There are options with laying tiles on the steps. It looks at home, inspires confidence and adds reliability to the building. But be careful, as any step covering you choose should not be slippery, otherwise this area will become potentially dangerous in the cold season due to snow and ice.

Stone porch

Natural stone is considered a classic option. Such raw materials are durable, presentable and durable, which is especially important. There are many varieties of stone, with some suitable for the base, and a number of others for creating decorative elements (and the raw materials for making the base will cost much more). Although, in general, all types of stone are able to withstand adverse weather conditions, and it will not require additional maintenance for a long time.

If the building is stone, then you can fit a porch with columns into the overall structure. Natural stone can be combined with monumental elements. Such a composition will look harmonious.

Metal and wrought iron porch

Usually, when talking about a forged or metal porch, they mean decorative parts of the structure - canopies, railings, steps, which are made on the basis of metal. But sometimes a completely metal porch is installed in a private house.

The main advantage that such designs have is increased strength and durability. However, you will have to constantly paint and treat the porch so that it does not deteriorate due to corrosion. Moreover, the metal floor will be cold enough, so it is not suitable for arranging a terrace. The latter option requires a concrete base or wood flooring on a metal base.

Porch with canopy

In most cases, canopies continue the roof and, together with the porch, perform an important function of protection from the effects of precipitation and solar radiation. This is a great option for arranging a comfortable entrance to the building.

If the building has architectural features that would not allow a canopy over the main entrance, even a small one, replace it with a canopy. Such a detail will not only partially perform the functions of a canopy, but will also be able to diversify the appearance of the building, and if you choose the product correctly or make it in an original way, it will become a real decoration of the exterior.

Even a small canopy can make the entrance to a private house more presentable. The shade from it can protect from the sun, as well as save from streams of water during rain, if you open the doors or wait for the car.

Porch with steps and railings

If the house has a high foundation and you can install steps that will lead to the main entrance, the installation of railings will be relevant. This design will make the exterior of the building appear safer and more stable, and will also serve a very specific function and help residents and visitors enter the house in bad weather.

This is the traditional design of the entrance to the building. It can be combined with a canopy or canopy, as well as additionally decorated with various designs to make the composition look complete.

Terraced porch

If the area in front of the front door allows you to organize a place to relax, then you can equip an open or closed terrace. There may be a swing for children on it, or it will simply be a place for a comfortable stay near the house, and an opportunity to protect yourself from bad weather conditions.

Spacious terraces can be equipped with garden furniture for comfortable rest, tubs with plants, and as a result get an attractive appearance of the building and a cozy atmosphere. Install pendant lights or place outdoor wall lights nearby. They will be able to illuminate the approach to the porch, for example, the paths leading to the building.

If the building has a high foundation, it is necessary to form a porch using steps. As a result, a terrace with a seating area will be at a certain elevation, when compared with ground level. Frame steps and flooring with stone or concrete, treated wood, or brick to provide protection from moisture or insects.

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